dardenne



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. DARDENNE.

PBNDULUM ESOAPBMBNT.

No. 574,984. Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

(fie Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. DARDENNE.

. PBNDULUM ESCAPEMBNT. N0. 5'74,984. Patented Jan. 12. 1897.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. m E mm ME AM w QM AN E P (No Model.)

Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTE DARDENNE, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, ASSIGNOR TO LA SOOIETE ANONYME POUR LEXPLOITATION DES BREVETS DARDENNE, OF SAME PLACE.

PENDULUM-ESCAPEM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,984, dated January 12, 1897.

Application filed August 11, 1894. Serial No. 520,076. (No model.) Patented in Belgium June 30,1894, No. 110,764; in France July 9, 1894. No. 239,914; in England July 16, 1894,110. 13,690; in Germany July 17,1894, No. 80,170; in SWitzerlandJuly 17,1894,No.8,696; in Italy July 17,1894,No. 36,8'70/266, and in Austria July 27, 1 894,110. 6,675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Aueusrn DARDENNE, watchmaker, a subject of the King of Belgium, and a resident of Brussels, in the Kin g- 5 dom of Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEscapem ents for Pendulum-Olocks, of which the following is a specification.

Patents for this invention have been ob- 1o tained in the following countries: Belgium,

No. 110,764, dated June 30, 1894; France, No.

239,914, dated July 9,1894; Great Britain,

No. 13,690, dated July 16, 1894; Germany,

No. 80,170, dated July 17, 1894; Switzerland, No. 8,696, dated July 17,1894; Italy, No.

36,870/266, dated July 1'7, 1894, and Austria, No. 5,675, dated July 27, 1894.

In pendulum-clocks heretofore constructed the escapement-anchor has been connected to the pendulum in such a manner as to cause it to follow vigorously the movements imparted to it by the vibrations of the latter.

In other words, the escapement-anchor is prevented from making any movement inde- 2 5 pendent of the pendulum, or, in still clearer language, its movements are imparted to it directly by the pendulum. The result is that all irregularities inherent in the movement of the pendulum are necessarily communio cated to the escapement-anchor and through the latter to the escapement-wheel, thereby compromising the regularity of the motion which it receives from the driving power.

This all the more obvious from the fact that 3 5 at each motion of the pendulum the engaged pallet of the escapementanchor is constantly in motion during the whole time it is entering and leaving the teeth of the escapementwheel.

The arrangement forming the subject of the present invention obviates the beforementioned inconveniences through the peculiar manner of connecting the pendulum to the escapement-wheel, whereby at every half-motion of the pendulum one of the pallets of the escapement-anchor shall stop the escapement-wheel and hold it independent of the further movement of the pendulum for an almost definite and invariable period,

during which the pendulum is allowed to finish its half-motion in full liberty, while on the return motion the other pallet of the escapement-anchor shall stop the escapementwheel in the ordinary way and receive from the latter a fresh impulse to recommence its motion. The result of this arrangement is to obtain for each complete vibration of the pendulum an invariable time for stopping and only a single impulse, which is quite sufficient, as during the next beat the pendulum gains enough force through its partial disconnection from the escapement-anchor to enable it to-accomplish its return motion.

In. order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved escapement for pendulum-clocks, showing the invariable position of stoppage. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same in position of impulse. Fig. 3 is a like view showing the position of the escapement-anchor immediately before its fall. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a clock provided with my im- 7 5 proved escapement and with my pneumatic winder to maintain the weight at a constant height. Fig. 5 is a front view of the clock.

As will be seen in the drawings, B is the escapement-anchor,which is not, as usual, arranged above the escapement-wheel R, but it is located at one side thereof, where it oscillates freely on its center of motion, which consists of a rock-shaft b suitably mounted in the clock-frame. From this center or rockshaft extends laterally and inwardly an arm or lever L, having a screw-threaded end, upon which is screwed or tapped an adjustable counter-poise or weight 0, which determines the fall of the upper pallet 19 as soon as it is co left to itself, that is to say, disengaged from the pendulum P, and carries the arm B of the escapement-anchor to the extent of its out- Ward movement by overbalancing the weight of the anchor-arm. This anchor-arm B is 5 fixed to the center or rock-shaft of the escapement-anchor and to the latter by a screw 0 or other suitable fastening and extends dowinvard either vertically or in a position more or less inclined from a vertical. line, but always so that an action exerted by reason ol. the direction of the arm in contrary direction to that of the counterpoise 0 shall always be overcome by the latter and cannot prevent the fall of the upper pallet as soon as the escapement-anchor is liberated. The anchorarm 13 takes the place of the old fork-arm to elt'ect connection between the escapcmentanchor and the pendulum, but not in the old invariable and permanent manner, but in an adjustable and temporary manner, so that at a given moment the escapement-anchor shall find itself solely under the influence of the counterpoise and that the pendulum shall complete its motion in full. liberty. For this purpose the lower extremity of the anchorarm 13 is connected to the pendulum by means of a connection el'i'ectingat the required times the said. connection and disengagement oi the two parts, and the member enabling these two [functions to be realized in the most simple manner is ailexible connection M, preferably a cord capable of being lengthened or short ened at will to obtain the exact adjustment between the escapement-anchor and the pen dulum by a rotatable stud If, turning with sullicient friction in the lower end of the anchor-arm B and upon which the cord is wound. The adjustment being arranged between the lower end of the anchor-arm and the pendulum, the regulation of the entire-system either fast or slow is ellfected by shifting the counter-poise (7 upon the arm 1), so that no matter what is the position of the bob on the pendulum the speed can always be regulated by turning the counterpoise C on the arm L in such a manner that each motion corresponds always exactly with the passage of one teeth of the wheel in the desired time and at the fraction of motion during which the pendulum vibrates freely and the wheels are stopped.

The working of this escapemcnt can be readily understood from the preceding descrip tion. The pendulum having accomplished its full motion toward the right (see Fig. the lower pallet Z) of the escapement-anehor stops the wheel in its movement in the direction of the arrow in the ordinary manner. Then in the commencement of its motion toward the left the tooth pressing against the lower pallet I) gives impulse to the clockwork to drive the pendulum toward the left, in which motion it is again assisted by the counterpoise O of the escapement-anchor as the ilexible member or cord M is distended, that is to say, the pendulum and the escapementanchor are connected together. This state of rigidity is maintained to about half of the motion of the pendulum, which is then in its ver- About this moment the upper tical position.

pallet b of the escapcme1it-anchor CQllllllOllCCh to touch. the face of the corresponding tooth, and from this momentit no longer moves with the pendulum, which continues its motion. and slaekens the flexible member or cord M, while the counterpoise 0 effects the fall oi. the upper pallet Z), which then invariably stops the wheel during the period in which the pen dulum completes its motion toward the left, which then returns to again distend the cord, raise the upper pallet 11, and rccommence the same motions. It will be noticed by this agency the wheel is stopped at each tooth or for one-half a stroke or vibration of the pendulum during a constant and invariable period.

It will be umflerstood that the speed olf oscillation is suitably regulated with relation to the rotation of the wheel. Thus the working of the clock will be of an almost absolute precision. This precision is l'urtherincreased in having combined with the clockwork having my improved. escapen1ent, hereinbo'lfore (loscribed,an autom a tie winding appara tus, re presented in Figs. iand 5,) consisting oi. a pneumatic fan or wiml-wheel working so as to maintain the weight at about the same height oi the spring at a constant tension if this latter motive power is used instead of a weight. The blades of. this fan can be cminectcd with a draftdlue or otherwise exposed to the action of a constant current of air, which operates it.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters llatent:

1. Au eseapement for pendulum-cloel s comprising an escapement-whecl, a pendulum, an escapement-auehor having an upper pallet, a lower pallet, and an anclu')r-arm, a rock-shaft, whereby the escapenlei'it-anclunis supported, having alaterally-extending arm provided with a counterpoise, and a llex ible connection between the pendulum and the arm of the esca-pement-anchor; substantially as described.

2. An escapement i'or pendulum clocks comprising an escapement-wheel, a pend1| lum, an escapement-anchor having an upper pallet, a lower pallet, and an anchor-arm p rovided with a rotz'itable stud at its lower end, a rock-shaft whereby the escapenunit-anchor is supported, having a laterally-extending arm provided with an ai'ljustablc counterpoise, and a flexible connection between the pendulum and the rotatable stud ol. the arm of the cscapement-anchor5 substantially as described.

AU GUSTIG lJAII'iLDltN N111 \Vitnesses:

AUG. JOERISSEN,

onY Tunic-ix. 

